Should I apply for this job? Not enough hours

[TartanMammy]

The perfect job has come up for me, I work in quite a niche area and they don't come up often. It matches my skills and experience perfectly. It is a slight step up from my current role in title (lead to senior manager), but the actual job description is everything I already do.

But...it's only part time at 21 hours a week. I currently work 28 hours, so the drop in hours makes it unaffordable - about £350 less a month, take home. Is there any point even applying?

The role is advertised at £43-£48k pro-rata. I'm currently on £42k pro rata. Even at the very top end of the scale I'd be a £150 down every month, and it's unlikely I could negotiate to start at the top end.
Plus I would have an additional £90 a month commuting costs, due to them having a mandatory day in the office.

There is probably not scope to ask to increase the hours as it's a funded post.

It’s not the perfect job then is it?

Would you be able to continue with some hours in your current job (maybe two long days, so ~18 hours) and then 21 hours in the other job?

Ok, I should have said the job description fits me perfectly.

Thanks for the helpful reply🙄.

Possibly but probably not. Full time would be quite a challenge logistically with childcare, so working above full time hours across two jobs would be near impossible.

There's a good chance my current job would need to fill my role and they'd struggle to get someone to do the remaining hours. Their would also be a conflict of interest in being employed by both.

Are you happy in your current job? And can you afford the pay cut?

I can't afford the pay cut.

Happy? Well i dont hate it, the work is interesting enough, I have good colleagues, I love the flexibility I have. There are systemic issues within the organisation, particularly the management, which I try to distance myself from on the day-to-day, but it does seep into almost everything and hold back progress.

Could you get a part time job elsewhere to plug the gap?

If you can’t afford the pay cut and you’re not unhappy then I think you have your answer.

I would also never risk leaving good colleagues and flexibility for the unknown.

I've just taken a pay cut and it's quite hard - cost of living has gone up and that isn't going to improve. I've made savings elsewhere so could that be an option e.g. save £90 somewhere else in your budget

If it’s public sector or education it’s not worth applying if you can’t afford it - as they almost never make exceptions. If it is private sector and you’re a strong candidate then go for it. Also worth checking if you would would be entitled to any benefits that might offset the drop - eg childcare or bonus

”I don’t hate it” is a perfectly good enough reason to stay put haha. It’s certainly been my motto over the last few years!

But seriously I think if they are advertising very specific hours and salary banding, and those things don’t work for you, then no point applying.

Apply.

You can ask about the possibility of an additional day later on the process.

Worst case scenario, you get to size up a potential employer, keep your interview skills up to scratch and might make a good impression that will bear fruit later.

I would 100% apply and if I was lucky to get the job make up the gap selling something on eBay/ vinted per month. Doing some part time work, etc or cutting something from life.

Those are tiny numbers for what is essentially a career progression and then when you have the job you could get extra hours maybe.

id be so inventive with gaining extra cash there are numerous fairly simple ways to make money now.

Also worth considering what the pension contributions are.

And what the promotions structure is. Could you ask for middle band with aim to get to the top in a few years.

Thanks everyone, it doesn't close for a few weeks so I have some time to mull it over. I'm swaying towards not applying now, got a bit over excited when I saw the ad.

I don't want to waste their time by going for it anyway ifl I could accept, as the sector is small. I've done that before and it just ended up very stressful and pissed off the recruiter.

The money isn't a 'tiny amount' to me, it's a significant chunk of our family budget - about 10% of our household take-home. I'd be taking that money away from our children, things like days out and extra curriculars would need to stop completely. I already sell on vinted and use cash back sites and blue light discounts etc, it's hard to see what I could cut back on without it affecting us. Vinted is how I pay for our. (modest) holidays. My eldest is 14 so I only have 3yrs before uni costs for him, if that's what he decides to do. I could try to pick up extra part time work but it's not guaranteed.

Pension contributions are similar but it's also a week less annual leave than I currently get. Unlikely match my current AL anywhere though - 42 days pro rata.

Why don’t you just give them a call to find out more about the role, sell yourself and explain you would need more hours to make it financially worthwhile. Explain you don’t want to waste their time and transparency is important to you, so you wanted to discuss matters before applying. Your leave is super generous, is that plus BHs?

That's a good idea actually, thank you!

The annual leave includes bank holidays but we don't officially 'close' for bank holidays so are free to use it when we want, rather than on specific bh days.